I AM BECAUSE YOU ARE

By Levi Allen

“I Am Because You Are” follows the journey of six women of colour as they embark on their first mountaineering trip in the beautiful and rugged Bugaboos. The plan was for a summer trip with the opportunity to learn foundational mountain skills from their guides, but up until the last minute the trip was almost canceled due to historic levels of spring snow. Despite the group having mixed levels of experience with backpacking or camping in the snow, the crew decides to come together, pack their bags and take on the adventure with trust in their guides. The group sets out to re-imagine the traditional narrative of mountaineering by living out the long-standing African philosophy of Ubuntu that translates I Am, Because You Are.